Metal-seaming tool for roofers



(No Model.)

P. VANDEN BERGHE. METAL smmsame TOOL FOR BOOFERS, &c. No. 329,514.

Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

14 N I i v INVENT OR agg WITNESSES p M w UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

PETER VANDEN BERGHE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.-

METAL-SEAMING TOOL FOR ROOFERS, 80c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,514, dated November 3, 1885.

' V Application filed July 30, 1885. Serial No. 173,073. (No modcLl To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, PETERVANDEN BERGHE, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia' and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Metal Seaming Tools for Roofing Purposes, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tool for seaming together the standing edges of roofing plates or sheets; and it consists in the combination, with two clamping-jaws attached to levers or tongs, of a rolling bar to co-operate therewith in forming the seam, and in peculiar devices for operating it.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved device; Figs. 2, 3, and 4, crosssections of the same, showing the parts in the successive positions which they assume during the formation of the seam.

A represents one of the clamping-jaws,consisting of a straight bar having a flat bottom and a vertical front face. The bar is attached at its ends firmly to the bearing-plates B and at its middle to the upright handle or lever O. The foot-plates are provided, as usual in this class of implements, with slots or openings a, to admit the standing edges of the sheets, the upper portion of these slots being made of circular form,to serve as bearings for the rollingbar hereinafter referred to.

D represents a second jaw, having a straight vertical face and attached at its middle rigidly to the arm or lever E, which is pivoted midway of its length to the lever G. The two levers serve as ameans of closing and holding the jaws together, after the manner of ordinary tinners clamps or tongs, so that the standing edges may be confined between them.

F represents a rolling bar having two fiat faces, f and f, placed at an obtuse angle to each other. This bar extends lengthwise above the jaw A, and has at its ends journals or bearings seated in the foot-plates B, in such manner that the bar may receive a quarter-revolution. When turned backward, the lower face of the bar F overhangs the vertical face of the jaw A, projecting beyond the same from a quarterto a half an inch, (more or less but as it is rolled forward its under face is turned backward toward the face of the jaw A until parallel therewith.

For the purpose of giving the rolling motion to the bar F, I provide a foot-lever, G, formed rigidly thereon, and also a second footlever, H, pivoted to the jaw A, and arranged to act at its inner end beneath the edge of the bar. A spring, I, connecting the two levers, as shown in the drawings, or otherwise suitably applied, serves to hold the parts normally in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The operation of the device is as follows: The adjacent edges of the plates which are to be seamed together are first brought to a vertical position in the ordinary manner, as indicated in Fig. 2, the edge of one plate extending above the other and above the under face of the bar F, as plainly shown in Fig. 2. The operator, separating the jaws by means of the levers, places them on opposite sides of the standing edges, and then by means of the levers causes the jaws to approach each other. The effect of this action is to force the taller of the two edges against and beneath the inside of the bar F, which folds or turns the same downward at right angles to a horizontal position on top of the jaw D, as seen in Fig. 3. The jaw D is next retracted by means of the levers, and the barF turned downward by the operator first placing his foot on the lever H, so as to give the bar a partial movement, and then upon the leverG to complete the movement. As the bar at this time overlies the horizontal edge of the sheet, it has the effect of turning the edge downward to a vertical position, so as to overlap the edge of the other sheet and complete the seam, as represented in Fig. 4.

The two arms or levers are employed to operate the rolling bar F, for the reason that it would be difficult to impart the necessary movement thereto by means of the arm G alone.

I am aware that it is old to employ in connection with clamping-jaws, one of which is of less length than the other, a rolling bar having at opposite ends two faces at right angles to each other, the first face turning the metal to a horizontal position, and the other folding it downward to a vertical position.

It is to be observed that in the operation of my tool there are but three positive steps: first, the closing together of the jaws A and B,

ICO

jaw A, having the vertical face, the opposing jaw D, having a vertical face, the rolling bar F, havinga flat face from end to end and a spring, substantially as described, to hold the a :5 bar F normally with its face in a horizontal .position, as described, whereby the closing of the jaws is caused to turn the edge of the metal to a horizontal position and the turning of the lbarFcaus'ed to complete the Isearnq 2. 'Ineonibination with the elainping-jaws 20 A D and their operating-levers, the rolling bar F and the two foot-levers for imparting motion thereto.

3. In combination with the jaws A D and their operating-levers, the rolling bar F, the 25 arm or lever G, formed rigidly thereon, the

' lev'erH, pivotedto the jaw A;and the spring I.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence, of two attesting witnesses.

'PETERVVANDEN BERGHE.

Witnesses:

P. T. DODGE,

H.-SH IPLEY. 

